Marking device

ABSTRACT

The specific feature of the device lies in that its driving discs linked kinematically with the marking drums are installed on a reversibly-rotatable shaft with the aid of springs and each disc is provided with a system of retainers whose number and position correspond to the number and position of the marking signs, each disc carrying a stop which can interact with the retainer; this ensures rapid and simultaneous remote changing of the position of the marking drums; besides, the device incorporates a system of drive links installed on the shaft, and stops located on the discs; these drive links and stops allow the marking drums to be returned rapidly and remotely to the initial position.

United States Patent [191 Petrikovsky s41 'MARKING DEVICE [76] Inventor:Efim Lvovich Petrikovsky, prospekt imeni Lenina, 45, kv. 34,Chelyabinsk, USSR.

[22] Filed: Dec. 23, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 211,258

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,230,925 1/1966 Blanz.... 18/7 2,338,894 H1944Beebe 118/301 3,452,710 7/1969 Hentschez.. ..118/7 1,909,550 5/1933Peirce ..101/93 C 51 May 29,1973

3,108,560 10/1963 Bowne ..118/301 X Primary Examiner-James Kee ChiAttorney-Eric H. Waters, John (J. Schwartz, and .1.

Harold Nissen [57] ABSTRACT The specific feature of the device lies inthat its driving discs linked kinematically with the marking drums areinstalled on a reversibly-rotatable shaft with the aid of springs andeach disc is provided with a system of retainers whose number andposition correspond to the number and position of the marking signs,each disc carrying a stop which can interact with the retainer; thisensures rapid and simultaneous remote changing of the position of themarking drums; besides, the device incorporates a system of drive linksinstalled on the shaft, and stops located on the discs; these drivelinks and stops allow the marking drums to be returned rapidly andremotely to the initial position.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures MARKING nsvrca The present invention relatesto the marking devices and, particularly, those intended for markinglarge-size products.

In the process of marking, the product is marked with I figures, lettersand signs used separately or, most frewhose cylindrical surface isprovided with the marks to.

be applied to the'surface of the product. Each of these discs or drumsis connected by an endless chain with a sprocket rotated by anindividual pneumatic or hydraulic drive.

On each operation of the drive the sprocket turns one step; accordingly,the marking disc or drum also turns one step thus changing the mark.

By turning each sprocket through a required angle, the marking discs ordrums are set to the necessary positions, thus selecting the requiredset of figures, letters or signs.

A disadvantage of the known devices lies in that each sprocket is turnedthrough the required angle for selecting the desired mark by engagingits drive many times. Asa result, the setting of the marking drums ordiscs becomes complicated and time-wasting while the device proper isbulky and heavy.

Also known in the art are other marking devices consisting of a casingprovided with a port which is located at the bottom part of said casingand faces the product;

installed inside the casing, along said port, are a number ofnozzles'covered by shutters which have through holes in the shape of themarks. The casing is mounted on a trolley which moves along a jib, thelatter being installed across a roller bed which carries thecontinuously moving products to be marked.

A disadvantage of these devices lies in the complicated control of theshutters and in the difiiculties of changing their position quickly,including their shifting to the initial position. The use of thesedevices renders the marking process diflicult and time-wasting.

Besides, still other devices are known for marking the continuouslymoving products, e.g., metal strip or steel sections. These devicescomprise a marking drum or wheel whose cylindrical surface is providedwith the marking signs. The disadvantages of these devices include theimpossibility of changing the set of the marking signs in the process ofmarking and changing them at a distance.

An object of the invention resides in eliminating the disadvantages ofthe above-described marking devices. The invention aims at providing adevice with such a system of retainers which would ensure rapid andindividual fixing of the drums in the required position.

This object is achieved by providing a marking device which comprisesmarking drums connected, each, with the driving disc by an endlessflexible link in which, according to the invention, the driving discsare secured on a reversibly-rotatable shaft by means of springs and eachdisc has a system of retainers located along the entire cylindricalsurface of said disc, the number and positions of these retainerscorresponding to the number and position of the signs on the markingdrum; each disc is fitted with a stop interacting with the retainersintended for this particular discibesides, each disc has one more stopand the shaft carries drive links whose number corresponds to the numberof the discs, said drive links interacting with the last-mentioned stopsduring reverse rotation of the shaft.

To ensure remote and automatic setting of the marking drums, theretainers are of the electromagnetic type, connected electrically withthe control system of the device.

Now the device will be described in detail by way of example withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG.I is a longitudinal vertical section of the marking device accordingto the invention;

FIG.2 shows the same device, a section taken along line 11-11 in FIG.I.

The device comprises a casing I (FIGS. I, 2) accommodating marking drums3 installed between rollers 2 (FIG. 2), and driving discs 6 installed ona common shaft 4 with the aid of springs 5 (FIG.I). v

The shaft 4 is driven by a reversible electric motor 7. Each drum 3 isconnected with the disc 6 by an endless cable 8 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

Each marking drum 3 is made in the form of a hollow cylinder and hascutouts 8a in the form of figures, letters or other signs, spaced atequal distances along the entire cylindrical surface.

Arranged along the entire cylindrical surface of each disc 6 areelectromagnetic retainers 9 which are secured rigidly to theintermediate walls I0 of the casing I.

Each retainer corresponds to a certain sign on the marking drum 3 of thecorresponding disc 6. Each electromagnetic retainer 9 is connectedelectrically with the control-system (not shown in the drawings).

The rim of each disc 6 is provided with a stop II which can interactwith any retainer 9 of one and the same disc 6.

Installed on the shaft 4 are drive links l2 whose numher is equal tothat of the discs 6. A stop I3 secured in the face of each disc caninteract with the drive link I2 during rotation of the shaft 4.

A pipe I4 passing through the drums is fastened to the wall of thecasing I. This pipe I4 carries nozzles I5 for the delivery of paint,varnish, etc. Paint and compressed air is supplied to the nozzlesthrough pipes I6 and I7.

The device can be used for stationary work, being mounted on supports.In this case the product I8 to be marked is fed under the drums 3. Thedevice can also be installed on a trolley, a jib, etc. In this case thedevice moves relative to the stationary product 18. In the course ofmarking the product should be held at a short mechanical relay or acounting relay of the step-by-step selector type, provided with a devicefor transferring tens to the next digits. The command pulses are sentseparately for each digit through individual channels.

The required set of signs is selected by pressing the buttons orrotating the telephone dial on the control desk. This puts into motionthe retainers 9 corresponding to the selected signs. The cores I9 ofthese retainers 9 move towards the discs 3.

Then the electric motor 7 is started and begins rotating the shaft 4 viathe speed reducer 20 (F161). The shaft rotates the discs 6 and, togetherwith them, the drums 3. Each disc continues rotating until its stop IIcomes to the extended core 19 of the corresponding retainer 9.

After one or more discs have stopped, the remaining discs continuerotating because the discs 6 are fastened on the shaft '4 with the aidof springs which, after the stopping of the discs, begin to be twisted,rotating together with the shaft 4 to which one end of said springs 5 issecured.

The marking drums 3 rotate in correspondence with the rotation of thediscs 6, thus being set to the required position. v

After the shaft 4 has turned through a required angle the cam 21operates the transmitter 22 showing the position of the shaft 4; thistransmitter sends a signal for stopping the electric motor 7. For visualcontrol and observation of the drum setting, the casing I of the deviceis provided with a port 23 (F102) through which it is possible toobserve the marks on the cylindrical surface of the discs 6. Theposition of these marks correspondsto the number and position of themarks on the cylindrical surface of the marking drums 3.

Having ascertained that the marking drums 3 are set as required, turn onall the nozzles simultaneously v and mark the product with a spray ofpulverized pain or varnish through the cutouts 8a in the drums 3.

Then the electric motor is reversed and the shaft 4 starts rotating inthe opposite direction. The drive links 12 act on the stops l3 andreturn the discs 6 to the initial position. During reverse rotation ofthe shaft the spiral springs 5 are untwisted. The shaft 4 stops rotatingwhen the cam 21 interacts with the second shaft-position transmitter(not shown in the drawings). After all the discs 6 and, correspondingly,drums 3 have returned to their initial position, all the electromagneticretainers 9 are deenergized simultaneously and their cores 19 are pulledby the springs into the retainer bodies. In this position the device isready for the next selection of marking signs and for marking theproduct.

What is claimed is:

I. A marking device comprising: marking drums; driving discs installedon a common reversiblyrotatable shaft; springs which secure said discson said shaft; endless flexible cables connecting said marking drumswith the corresponding discs; a system of retainers for each of saiddriving discs; said retainers are located along the entire cylindricalsurface of each of said discs and their number and position correspondto the number and position of the signs on each of said marking drums; astop on each of said discs which can interact with any retainer of thecorresponding disc; one more stop on each of said discs; drive links onsaid shaft, said drive links acting on the last-mentioned stops duringthe reverse rotation of said shaft, thus returning said discs to theinitial position.

2. A device according to claim I, wherein said retainers are of theelectromagnetic type connected electrically with the control system ofthe device.

a :r a a t

1. A marking device comprising: marking drums; driving discs installedon a common reversibly-rotatable shaft; springs which secure said discson said shaft; endless flexible cables connecting said marking drumswith the corresponding discs; a system of retainers for each of saiddriving discs; said retainers are located along the entire cylindricalsurface of each of said discs and their number and position correspondto the number and position of the signs on each of said marking drums; astop on each of said discs which can interact with any retainer of thecorresponding disc; one more stop on each of said discs; drive links onsaid shaft, said drive links acting on the last-mentioned stops duringthe reverse rotation of said shaft, thus returning said discs to theinitial position.
 2. A device according to claim I, wherein saidretainers are of the electromagnetic type connected electrically withthe control system of the device.